Kano State House of Assembly Orders Refund of Misappropriated Funds by Agencies

During a plenary session presided over by Speaker Jibril Falgore, the Kano State House of Assembly issued a directive for three state agencies – the Kano State Road Traffic Agency, Kano State Primary Health Care Agency, and Kano Printing Press – to refund a total of N260 million that was misappropriated.

The Assembly accused the three agencies of misusing allocations and revenues they had generated, prompting the decision for reimbursement during Tuesday’s session.

Lawmakers emphasized the importance of due diligence in managing public finances, warning all ministries, agencies, and parastatals to adhere to financial regulations or face appropriate sanctions.

Mohammed Tukur, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Account and representative of Fagge Constituency, presented the 2021 audited public account during the session. He expressed concern over financial irregularities within government agencies, highlighting instances where funds allocated for COVID-19 and social welfare programs were not utilized as intended. Additionally, Tukur cited instances where budget allocations for projects, such as the construction of 100 pit toilets, were fully capitalized but not implemented effectively.

Tukur also raised concerns about the backlog of unaudited public expenditures left by the previous administration, spanning six years. This backlog has hindered proper accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.

In response to these issues, Majority Leader Lawan Husain moved a motion to compel the Auditor General and Accountant General of the state to ensure stringent oversight of public funds, enforce accountability, and facilitate the refund of misappropriated funds by government agencies.